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The United Nations (UN) announced on Thursday that it is exploring various options to maintain a presence in Lebanon following the scheduled expiration of the UNIFIL peacekeeping mandate at the end of this year.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, noted that the Lebanese government has expressed a clear desire for a continued UN role.
Any future mission, which would likely be smaller than the current 8,200-troop force, must be approved by the Security Council, with formal recommendations due by June 1.
Established in 1978, UNIFIL has recently been caught in the crossfire of the escalating Middle East conflict.
The mission has suffered casualties, including the recent deaths of five peacekeepers from Indonesia and France.
The violence intensified in March following Hezbollah’s rocket attacks against Israel, but a fragile 10-day ceasefire has provided a recent lull.
This pause has allowed peacekeepers to intensify humanitarian support and monitoring activities, though the situation remains volatile as the December 31 withdrawal deadline approaches.
A primary challenge for any successor mission involves the disarmament of armed groups and the limited capacity of the Lebanese army.
While the UN remains ready to assist Beirut in stabilising the region, Lacroix emphasised that a durable solution must balance the security requirements of both Lebanon and Israel.
As the Security Council deliberates on the 2027 withdrawal timeline, Lebanese officials are currently in Washington seeking an extension of the existing ceasefire to facilitate further diplomatic talks.
